Cable duct coupler

ABSTRACT

A cable duct coupler for coupling a first cable duct section to a second cable duct section without the need for tools, the first and second cable duct sections each having an end, the cable duct coupler comprising a channel portion having a first portion generally complementary to the end of the first cable duct section and a second portion generally complementary to the end of the second cable duct section, a first outer guide element generally complementary to the end of the first cable duct section and a second outer guide element generally complementary to the end of the second cable duct section, wherein the end of the first cable duct section is receivable into the coupler between the first portion of the channel portion and the first outer guide element and the end of the second cable duct section is receivable into the coupler between the second portion of the channel portion and the second outer guide element, a barb mount extending from at least one of the channel portion and the outer guide elements, and a barb having a body and first and second arms extending from the body, the barb being mounted on the barb mount, wherein at least a portion of the first arm extends at an angle between the first portion of the channel portion and the barb body and at least a portion of the second arm extends at an angle between the second portion of the channel portion and the barb body, wherein upon insertion of the end of the first cable duct section into the coupler between the first portion of the channel portion and the first outer guide element, the first arm of the barb engages the first cable duct section to significantly resist withdrawal of the first cable duct section, and wherein upon insertion of the end of the second cable duct section into the coupler between the second portion of the channel portion and the second outer guide element, the second arm of the barb engages the second cable duct section to significantly resist withdrawal of the second cable duct section.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application, claimingpriority to previously filed U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/585,699, the entirety of the previously filed application beingincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

[0002] Raceway duct systems have become very popular in recent years toroute, protect, and conceal data, voice, video, fiber optic and/or powercabling. Such systems allow custom installation and can be providedwithin walls or more preferably provided on external surfaces, allowingready access for reconfiguration, repair, or installation of additionalequipment. Such systems may typically include various sections of ductor raceway, including straight sections and various fittings, such as90° elbow fittings, 45° elbow fittings, T-fittings, four-wayintersection (x) fittings, and the like, respective ones of which areaffixed together by duct couplers to cumulatively form a duct system.

[0003] Due to the increase in number and sophistication of such racewayduct systems, the number of duct couplers being installed in suchsystems has also increased significantly. Therefore, it is important tohave couplers that are easy to install and expensive to manufacture, andthat provide relatively high pull-out force to prevent unintendeddisassembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In one form of the invention, there is provided a cable ductcoupler for coupling a first cable duct section to a second cable ductsection without the need for tools, the first and second cable ductsections each having an end, the cable duct coupler comprising a channelportion having a first portion generally complementary to the end of thefirst cable duct section and a second portion generally complementary tothe end of the second cable duct section, a first outer guide elementgenerally complementary to the end of the first cable duct section and asecond outer guide element generally complementary to the end of thesecond cable duct section, wherein the end of the first cable ductsection is receivable into the coupler between the first portion of thechannel portion and the first outer guide element and the end of thesecond cable duct section is receivable into the coupler between thesecond portion of the channel portion and the second outer guideelement, a barb mount extending from at least one of the channel portionand the outer guide elements, and a barb having a body and first andsecond arms extending from the body, the barb being mounted on the barbmount, wherein at least a portion of the first arm extends at an anglebetween the first portion of the channel portion and the barb body andat least a portion of the second arm extends at an angle between thesecond portion of the channel portion and the barb body, wherein uponinsertion of the end of the first cable duct section into the couplerbetween the first portion of the channel portion and the first outerguide element, the first arm of the barb engages the first cable ductsection to significantly resist withdrawal of the first cable ductsection, and wherein upon insertion of the end of the second cable ductsection into the coupler between the second portion of the channelportion and the second outer guide element, the second arm of the barbengages the second cable duct section to significantly resist withdrawalof the second cable duct section.

[0005] In another form of the invention, there is provided a cable ductsystem comprising a first cable duct section having an end, a secondcable duct section having an end, and a cable duct coupler including, achannel portion having a first portion generally complementary to theend of the first cable duct section and a second portion generallycomplementary to the end of the second cable duct section, a first outerguide element generally complementary to the end of the first cable ductsection and a second outer guide element generally complementary to theend of the second cable duct section, wherein the end of the first cableduct section is receivable into the coupler between the first portion ofthe channel portion and the first outer guide element and the end of thesecond cable duct section is receivable into the coupler between thesecond portion of the channel portion and the second outer guideelement, a barb mount extending from at least one of the channel portionand the outer guide elements, and a barb having a body and first andsecond arms extending from the body, the barb being mounted on the barbmount, wherein at least a portion of the first arm extends at an anglebetween the first portion of the channel portion and the barb body andat least a portion of the second arm extends at an angle between thesecond portion of the channel portion and the barb body, wherein uponinsertion of the end of the first cable duct section into the couplerbetween the first portion of the channel portion and the first outerguide element, the first arm of the barb engages the first cable ductsection to significantly resist withdrawal of the first cable ductsection, and wherein upon insertion of the end of the second cable ductsection into the coupler between the second portion of the channelportion and the second outer guide element, the second arm of the barbengages the second cable duct section to significantly resist withdrawalof the second cable duct section.

[0006] In yet another embodiment of the invention, there is provided amethod for assembling a cable duct system, the method comprisingproviding a first cable duct section having an end, providing a secondcable duct section having an end, providing a cable duct coupler havinga channel portion with a first portion generally complementary to theend of the first cable duct section and a second portion generallycomplementary to the end of the second cable duct section, a first outerguide element generally complementary to the end of the first cable ductsection and a second outer guide element generally complementary to theend of the second cable duct section, a barb mount extending from atleast one of the channel portion and the outer guide elements, and abarb having a body and first and second arms extending from the body,the barb being mounted on the barb mount, wherein at least a portion ofthe first arm extends at an angle between the first portion of thechannel portion and the barb body and at least a portion of the secondarm extends at an angle between the second portion of the channelportion and the barb body, inserting the end of the first cable ductsection between the first portion of the channel portion and the firstouter guide element until the first arm of the barb engages the firstcable duct section to significantly resist withdrawal of the first cableduct section, and inserting the end of the second cable duct sectionbetween the second portion of the channel portion and the second outerguide element until the second arm of the barb engages the second cableduct section to significantly resist withdrawal of the second cable ductsection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cable duct coupler and cableduct system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention whereinfirst and second cable duct sections are coupled together by thecoupler;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the coupler of FIG. 1;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the coupler of FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the ductsection coupler of FIG. 1 showing the alignment of an end of the cableduct section with the coupler and the alignment of the barb, cover, andscrew to the coupler body;

[0011]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the coupler of FIG. 1 showingthe barb thereof in detail, the cross-sectional view taken across theline 5-5 in FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of thebarb;

[0013]FIG. 7 is a reverse perspective view of the barb of FIG. 6; and

[0014] FIGS. 8-15 show various cable duct system fittings, with lids,that may be coupled to each other or to a cable duct section by acoupler in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015]FIG. 1 shows a cable duct system 10 in accordance with anembodiment of the invention, and in particular shows a pair of discretecable duct sections 12 each having an end 13 (FIG. 4) inserted into andretained by a cable duct coupler 20 in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention. As seen, the end of the cable duct section preferably hasa U-shape, with a bottom portion 14 and two upwardly extending sideportions 16. The bottom portion may preferably include axially extendingribs 18 for strengthening the cable duct section, for facilitating themounting of the cable duct section onto a floor, wall, bracket, or othersupportive structure, and for preferably providing alignment criteriarelative to the coupler 20. At or near the distal ends of the sideportions 16, there may also preferably be a curved lip 19 or the likefor facilitating the attachment of a lid over the cable duct section 12to substantially enclose the cable duct section and retain one or morecables therein, as is well known in the art. The duct section may alsoinclude longitudinal ribs 17 on the outside thereof. The cable ductsection is preferably made from a hard plastic or other strong, slightlydeformable, dielectric material.

[0016] The coupler 20 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, withFIG. 2 showing the coupler in perspective and FIG. 3 showing a frontelevational view thereof. The coupler 20, as seen previously in FIG. 1,joins two discrete cable duct sections 12, and the coupler has an axialdirection generally in accordance with and parallel to the direction inwhich cables will generally lie as they pass through the coupler, i.e.,generally in line with the longitudinal direction of the cable ductsections.

[0017] Coupler 20 has a channel portion 22 which defines the cablepathway therethrough as the cable makes its way from one cable ductsection to another. In a preferred embodiment, the channel portionincludes a bottom portion 30 and two side portions 32 extending somewhatperpendicularly to each end of the bottom portion 30. The side portions32, in a preferred embodiment, form a slightly obtuse angle (>90°)relative to the bottom portion 30, to open the section and facilitatecable retention and withdrawal. The channel portion 22 has an innersurface 26 including the facing surfaces of the side portions 32 and theupper surface of the bottom portion 30, and an outer surface 27including the opposite surfaces of the bottom and side portions 30 and32.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the coupler includes a rib 36extending outwardly and generally perpendicularly from the outer surface27 of the channel portion 22. The rib 36 preferably completely traversesthe outer surface 27 of the channel portion 22, dividing it and theentire coupler into two symmetric halves, a first portion 24 forreceiving a first cable duct section and a second portion 25 forreceiving a second cable duct section. In a preferred embodiment, therib 36 is centrally disposed along a line of symmetry for the coupler.As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer surface 27 of the channel portion 22may preferably include contact ridges 28 for contacting and facilitatingthe alignment of an end of a cable duct section when inserted into thecoupler.

[0019] Coupler 20 also includes a number of outer guide elementsfacilitating the alignment of a duct section end as it is inserted intothe coupler. In the illustrated embodiment, the coupler includes a pairof outer guide elements 40 disposed opposite the outer surface 27 of thebottom portion 30 of the channel portion 22, and a pair of outer guideelements 42 opposing the outer surface 27 of each side portion 32 of thechannel portion 22. The outer guide elements 40 include guide surfaces44 and axial web portions 48, with the guide surfaces 44 and axial webportions 48 being supported by a centered transverse web portion 50, allof which extend from the narrow central rib 36 traversing the outersurface 27 of the channel portion 22. The outer guide elements 42opposite the side portions 32 of the channel portion also include guidesurfaces 44 and axial web portions 48, but they are supported by a pairof non-centrally disposed transverse web portions 52 extending outwardlyfrom the corresponding guide surfaces 44. Any or all of the guidesurfaces 44 of the respective outer guide elements 40 and 42 maypreferably include alignment ridges 46 for contacting and facilitatingthe alignment of an end of a cable duct section being inserted into thecoupler. Additionally, there may be any number of guide elements 40 and42 within the scope of the invention, and the gaps 49 between adjacentguide elements may, in particular embodiments of the invention, bespanned by a strengthening web 53 to strengthen the coupler generally.

[0020] In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, and as best seenin FIGS. 2 and 4, between particular outer guide elements, 40 and 42,there are gaps 49. Preferably disposed between transverse web portions50 and 52 corresponding to adjacent outer guide elements 40 and 42, andpreferably disposed on or substantially on the central rib 36, there isa barb mount 60 for receiving a fastener therein. In the illustratedembodiment, the barb mount supports a barb 54 thereon and has aninternally threaded aperture 78 therein. As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, thebarb 54 includes a pair of arms 64 bent back relative to a body portion62 at an angle greater than 90° so that the arms angle towards eachother. The barb body 62 is mountable upon the barb mount 60 andretainable thereon by an externally threaded screw 58 or other fastenerwhich penetrates a hole 56 in the barb and is directed into theinternally threaded screw aperture 78 in the barb mount 60. Thus, thebarbs 54 are mounted in gaps 49 between particular outer guide elements40 and 42. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the barb may haveserrated edges 66 at the distal ends of its arms 64. The serrated edgespermit the barb arms to more reliably engage inserted cable ductsections so as to resist withdrawal of the section from the coupler. Inparticular, the serrated edge may “bite” or “dig” into the material ofthe duct section 12, such as extruded plastic.

[0021] Also in a preferred embodiment of the invention, and as best seenin FIGS. 6 and 7, the barb body 62 may have one or more flanges 68running lengthwise along the edges thereof: Such flanges render the barbbody 62 less prone to bending/deflection during withdrawal of a ductsection from the coupler and thereby increase the minimum withdrawalforce of the coupler. Also in a preferred embodiment of the invention,portions of the barb arms 64 and portions of the barb body 62 includeone or more ribs 70 to strengthen the barb and make it less vulnerableto having the barb arm 64 deflected relative to the barb body 62,especially during duct section withdrawal. Also in a preferredembodiment of the invention, the barb cover 72 may include a holecentrally located therein so that it may be retained over the barb bodyby the screw 58. Covers 72 enhances the aesthetic appearance of thecoupler by hiding the metal barbs 54 and, in some embodiments, mayprovide contact support for the barbs 54 when withdrawal force isapplied to a cable duct section inserted into the coupler.

[0022] When the end 13 of a cable duct section 12 is to be inserted intoa coupler 20 in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, theU-shaped profile of the end 13 is inserted to generally circumscribe theouter surface 27 of the channel portion 22 of the coupler. The variousguide surfaces 44 of the outer guide elements 40 and 42 may initiallycontact the end 13 of the cable duct section 12 and facilitate alignmentof the cable duct section into the coupler. In particular, contactridges 46 of the guide surfaces 44 assist in the alignment uponinsertion, as do the contact ridges 28 on the outer surface 27 of thechannel portion 22. The cable duct section's strengthening ribs 18 arealigned to fit into gaps between the outer guide elements 40, 42.

[0023] While the end 13 of the cable duct section 12 approaches itsfully inserted position adjacent to the central rib 36, it encountersbarb arms 64 angled generally in the direction of the insertion. Becausethe end 13 lacks sufficient clearance, it will contact one of eachbarb's arms 64 upon insertion. The barb arms 64 will deflect slightlytoward their respective barb bodies 62 to permit the end 13 to passthereunder without offering substantial resistance as the end continuestoward the central rib 36. The serrated edges 66 of the barb arms 64will not significantly bite into the extruded plastic end 13 duringinsertion due to the angle of the barb arms 64. Once the end 13 comesflush with the central rib 36, the insertion is completed.

[0024] When a withdrawal force is applied to the cable duct section 12,the end 13 of the cable duct section begins to and nominally slides awayfrom the central rib 36, but upon such nominal movement in thewithdrawal direction, the serrated edges 66 of the barb arms 64 bitinglyengage and dig in to the extruded plastic of the duct section 12.Longitudinal ribs 17 on the exterior of the duct section are optionallyprovided to enhance the magnitude of engagement of the barb arms 64therewith. The withdrawal forces are thereby countered by the resistanceof the barb arms 64 to open. Thus, in order to withdraw the cable ductsection, enough withdrawal force must be applied to either significantlydeform the arms of the barbs or to permit the serrated edges 66 of thebarb arms 64 to lose their biting grip thereon and thereby score thecable duct section 12 as it is withdrawn from the coupler. In apreferred embodiment of the invention, the duct section slides under thebarb arm, with possible socring, and the barb arms are not permanentlydeformed when a withdrawal force exceeding the minimum withdrawal forceis applied to the duct section. Avoiding damage to the barb arms permitsthe coupler to be reused.

[0025] In the embodiments of the invention including a barb cover, suchas barb cover 72, the cover may prevent or limit deflection of the barbbody in a direction away from the cable duct section so as to supportthe magnitude of biting engagement between the serrated edge 66 and theextruded duct section. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, theflange(s) 68 and the rib(s) 70 provide the support without the presenceof a barb cover.

[0026] FIGS. 8-15 show various cable duct system fittings, with lids,that may be coupled to each other or to a straight cable duct section bya coupler in accordance with the invention. FIG. 8 shows an outsidevertical right angle fitting for routing cable between a horizontalorientation and a vertical orientation. FIG. 9, similarly, shows anoutside vertical 45° fitting. FIG. 10 shows an inside vertical 45°fitting. FIG. 11 shows an inside vertical right angle fitting. FIG. 12shows a four-way cross fitting. FIG. 13 shows an inside vertical rightangle fitting. FIG. 14 shows a horizontal Tee fitting. FIG. 15 shows avertical Tee fitting. These fittings are exemplary and in no way limitthe scope of the application of the inventive cable duct system andcoupler.

[0027] The disclosed invention provides an improved cable duct couplerand cable duct system. It should be noted that the above-described andillustrated embodiments and preferred embodiments of the invention arenot an exhaustive listing of the forms such a coupler and system inaccordance with the invention might take; rather, they serve asexemplary and illustrative of embodiments of the invention as presentlyunderstood. By way of example, and without limitation, a non-U-shapedcoupler and correspondingly shaped duct sections are contemplated to bewithin the scope of the invention. Similarly, while the illustratedembodiment includes covers over each of the barbs in the coupler,embodiments having no covers are also contemplated by the invention.Many other forms of the invention are believed to exist. The inventionis defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cable duct coupler for coupling a first cableduct section to a second cable duct section without the need for tools,said first and second cable duct sections each having an end, said cableduct coupler comprising: a channel portion having a first portiongenerally complementary to said end of said first cable duct section anda second portion generally complementary to said end of said secondcable duct section; a first outer guide element generally complementaryto said end of said first cable duct section and a second outer guideelement generally complementary to said end of said second cable ductsection; wherein said end of said first cable duct section is receivableinto said coupler between said first portion of said channel portion andsaid first outer guide element and said end of said second cable ductsection is receivable into said coupler between said second portion ofsaid channel portion and said second outer guide element; a barb mountextending from at least one of said channel portion and said outer guideelements; and a barb having a body and first and second arms extendingfrom said body, said barb being mounted on said barb mount; wherein atleast a portion of said first arm extends at an angle between said firstportion of said channel portion and said barb body and at least aportion of said second arm extends at an angle between said secondportion of said channel portion and said barb body; wherein uponinsertion of said end of said first cable duct section into said couplerbetween said first portion of said channel portion and said first outerguide element, said first arm of said barb engages said first cable ductsection to significantly resist withdrawal of said first cable ductsection; and wherein upon insertion of said end of said second cableduct section into said coupler between said second portion of saidchannel portion and said second outer guide element, said second arm ofsaid barb engages said second cable duct section to significantly resistwithdrawal of said second cable duct section.
 2. A cable duct coupler inaccordance with claim 1, further including a rib extending substantiallyperpendicularly and outwardly from at least a portion of said channelportion.
 3. A cable duct coupler in accordance with claim 2, whereinsaid coupler has an axial direction and is symmetric about a planeperpendicular to said axial direction, said rib being generally centeredrelative to said plane of symmetry.
 4. A cable duct coupler inaccordance with claim 3, wherein said barb mount is disposedsubstantially on said rib.
 5. A cable duct coupler in accordance withclaim 2, wherein said barb mount is disposed substantially on said rib.6. A cable duct coupler in accordance with claim 1, further including acover substantially covering at least one side of said barb.
 7. A cableduct coupler in accordance with claim 6, further including a fastenerfor jointly mounting said cover and said barb to said barb mount.
 8. Acable duct coupler in accordance with claim 6, wherein said barb isdeflectable into contact with said cover during withdrawal of said cableduct section from said coupler.
 9. A cable duct coupler in accordancewith claim 1, wherein at least one of said arms of said barb includesserrations thereon for enhancing said engagement between said at leastone of said arms and said cable duct section engaged by said at leastone of said arms.
 10. A cable duct coupler in accordance with claim 9,wherein said serrations are at least included at the distal ends of saidarms of said barb.
 11. A cable duct coupler in accordance with claim 1,wherein at least one of said first portion of said channel portion andsaid second portion of said channel portion is generally U-shaped,having a bottom wall portion and two side portions and said cable ductsection corresponding to said at least one of said first and secondportions of said channel portion is also generally U-shaped, having abottom wall portion and two side portions.
 12. A cable duct coupler inaccordance with claim 11, including at least three barbs, onecorresponding to and disposed proximately to each of said bottom portionand said two side portions of said channel portion.
 13. A cable ductcoupler in accordance with claim 1, wherein said body portion includes aflange extending therealong.
 14. A cable duct coupler in accordance withclaim 13, wherein said body portion includes a pair of flanges extendingtherealong on opposite edges thereof.
 15. A cable duct coupler inaccordance with claim 1, wherein at least one arm of said barb includesa reinforcing rib extending therealong.
 16. A cable duct coupler inaccordance with claim 1, wherein said channel portion includes aplurality of contact ridges along an outer surface thereof.
 17. A cableduct coupler in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of saidouter guide elements includes a plurality of contact ridges along aninner surface thereof.
 18. A cable duct system comprising: a first cableduct section having an end; a second cable duct section having an end;and a cable duct coupler including: a channel portion having a firstportion generally complementary to said end of said first cable ductsection and a second portion generally complementary to said end of saidsecond cable duct section; a first outer guide element generallycomplementary to said end of said first cable duct section and a secondouter guide element generally complementary to said end of said secondcable duct section; wherein said end of said first cable duct section isreceivable into said coupler between said first portion of said channelportion and said first outer guide element and said end of said secondcable duct section is receivable into said coupler between said secondportion of said channel portion and said second outer guide element; abarb mount extending from at least one of said channel portion and saidouter guide elements; and a barb having a body and first and second armsextending from said body, said barb being mounted on said barb mount;wherein at least a portion of said first arm extends at an angle betweensaid first portion of said channel portion and said barb body and atleast a portion of said second arm extends at an angle between saidsecond portion of said channel portion and said barb body; wherein uponinsertion of said end of said first cable duct section into said couplerbetween said first portion of said channel portion and said first outerguide element, said first arm of said barb engages said first cable ductsection to significantly resist withdrawal of said first cable ductsection; and wherein upon insertion of said end of said second cableduct section into said coupler between said second portion of saidchannel portion and said second outer guide element, said second arm ofsaid barb engages said second cable duct section to significantly resistwithdrawal of said second cable duct section.
 19. A cable duct system inaccordance with claim 18, further including a rib extendingsubstantially perpendicularly and outwardly from at least a portion ofsaid channel portion.
 20. A cable duct system in accordance with claim19, wherein said coupler has an axial direction and is symmetric about aplane perpendicular to said axial direction, said rib being generallycentered relative to said plane of symmetry.
 21. A cable duct system inaccordance with claim 20, wherein said barb mount is disposedsubstantially on said rib.
 22. A cable duct system in accordance withclaim 19, wherein said barb mount is disposed substantially on said rib.23. A cable duct system in accordance with claim 18, further including acover substantially covering at least one side of said barb.
 24. A cableduct system in accordance with claim 23, further including a fastenerfor jointly mounting said cover and said barb to said barb mount.
 25. Acable duct system in accordance with claim 23, wherein said barb isdeflectable into contact with said cover during withdrawal of said cableduct section from said coupler.
 26. A cable duct system in accordancewith claim 18, wherein at least one of said arms of said barb includesserrations thereon for enhancing said engagement between said at leastone of said arms and said cable duct section engaged by said at leastone of said arms.
 27. A cable duct system in accordance with claim 26wherein said serrations are at least included at the distal ends of saidarms of said barb.
 28. A cable duct system in accordance with claim 18,wherein at least one of said first portion of said channel portion andsaid second portion of said channel portion is generally U-shaped,having a bottom wall portion and two side portions and said cable ductsection corresponding to said at least one of said first and secondportions of said channel portion is also generally U-shaped, having abottom wall portion and two side portions.
 29. A cable duct system inaccordance with claim 28, including at least three barbs, onecorresponding to and disposed proximately to each of said bottom portionand said two side portions of said channel portion.
 30. A cable ductsystem in accordance with claim 26, wherein said body portion includes aflange extending therealong.
 31. A cable duct system in accordance withclaim 30, wherein said body portion includes a pair of flanges extendingtherealong on opposite edges thereof.
 32. A cable duct system inaccordance with claim 26, wherein at least one arm of said barb includesa reinforcing rib extending therealong.
 33. A cable duct system inaccordance with claim 18; wherein said channel portion includes aplurality of contact ridges along an outer surface thereof.
 34. A cableduct system in accordance with claim 18, wherein at least one of saidouter guide elements includes a plurality of contact ridges along aninner surface thereof.
 35. A cable duct system in accordance with claim18, wherein said first cable duct section is a generally straightchannel duct section.
 36. A cable duct system in accordance with claim18, wherein said first cable duct section is a fitting.
 37. A cable ductsystem in accordance with claim 18, wherein said first cable ductsection includes at least one engagement ridge for enhancing theengagement of said first arm of said barb therewith.
 38. A method forassembling a cable duct system, said method comprising: providing afirst cable duct section having an end; providing a second cable ductsection having an end; providing a cable duct coupler having an channelportion with a first portion generally complementary to said end of saidfirst cable duct section and a second portion generally complementary tosaid end of said second cable duct section, a first outer guide elementgenerally complementary to said end of said first cable duct section anda second outer guide element generally complementary to said end of saidsecond cable duct section, a barb mount extending from at least one ofsaid channel portion and said outer guide elements, and a barb having abody and first and second arms extending from said body, said barb beingmounted on said barb mount, wherein at least a portion of said first armextends at an angle between said first portion of said channel portionand said barb body and at least a portion of said second arm extends atan angle between said second portion of said channel portion and saidbarb body; inserting said end of said first cable duct section betweensaid first portion of said channel portion and said first outer guideelement until said first arm of said barb engages said first cable ductsection to significantly resist withdrawal of said first cable ductsection; and inserting said end of said second cable duct sectionbetween said second portion of said channel portion and said secondouter guide element until said second arm of said barb engages saidsecond cable duct section to significantly resist withdrawal of saidsecond cable duct section.